PACKING in his job, selling his home and cycling 30,000km with a woman he had only met three times before became a much needed life line for a Stokenchurch man.

John Chevis, 48, arrived in Konya, central Turkey last Thursday with Naomi Johnson, 39, after cycling through 30 countries across the globe.

They had both initially signed up for the World Cycle Challenge, organised in part with fellow world rider, Mark Beaumont.

John said: "Mark cycled round the world and at the time set a new world record for an unsupported trip. His idea was that for a large amount of money, you could cycle his route but fully supported.

"I signed up for this nine month monster and there was a Facebook page for all those that had signed up to either do the full route or stages.

"Naomi happened to have signed up for the full tour as had I. Sadly we got a phone call telling us the trip was off.

"Devastated as I was I quickly posted on the page that I still had the time, money and inclination to still do something and who else was interested.

"Naomi, who is from Edinburgh, was the only one who answered the call and we quickly started to email then talk on the phone. It quickly became obvious we would get on and arranged to meet for a cycle ride."

Despite John announcing he had never cycle toured or set up a tent they arrived to "test the waters" on their Seattle to San Francisco ride.

They have also toured Japan, pushed, slogged and carried bikes around the Annapurna circuit in Nepal, explored India, travelled the distance from Cairo to Capetown, cycled to watch the Tour de France before going on to Southern Italy, ridden around South East Asia, New Zealand, and Australia.

They are currently in Turkey and will be riding through Europe and Eastern Europe to be home for Christmas. They left in July 2012.

Having suffered with depression for a number of years, for John, cycling and exercise became a much needed life line.

Both the notion of goal setting and the release of endorphins made a noticeable difference in his mood and approach to life.

John sold his home and most of his possessions to embark on this adventure and he would encourage others to live their dream too.

Recognising he was fortunate to find a way to live his dream though, he notes the bravest part of the journey was simply deciding it was now or never.

John said: "I was nervous about everything- I questioned everything. I packed, re packed, checked and triple checked and to be honest if I hadn't told so many people I was going, I would probably have backed out.

"I was scared stiff and so far out of my comfort zone that I was on a different planet. I'd also not mentioned to Naomi that I'd never even put up a tent before let alone cycle toured.

"Freedom, culture, foods, history, meeting people, making friends and of course, cycling, these are the things I enjoy, going back to normal life will be the hardest part by far."

There has been no romance between John and Naomi but he said they will be friends for life.

Before John left Bucks he was a removal man at Doree Bonner Removals in High Wycombe and when he gets home he will rent a room with a friend.

John expects to be home for Christmas and on his return would like to help others facing similar challenges as well as continue his new passion for photography and cycling, of course.

You can find John's blog at www.johnpchevis@wordpress.com or search for John's cycle tour.